Playing on the edge of a hurricane

Created: Wed, 22 Sep 2010 11:19:50

Peter Robinson

Before this week references to Igor generally meant a Russian hockey player. Not after almost being blown across the Northumberland Strait at Fox Harb'r while teeing it up on the resort's golf course on Tuesday.

Playing the Graham Cooke design was part of a quick visit to the Nova Scotia-based resort, the opulent creation of Ron Joyce of Tim Hortons fame. Joyce built Fox Harb'r for business purposes but also as a way of giving back to his native area. (He grew up in nearby Tatamagouche and the resort is a big employer in the area.)

We are exaggerating only slightly about the wind on Tuesday as Hurricane Igor was delivering only a glancing blow to the region. Despite the gusts, it was easy to see the appeal of the golf course. The front nine is solid but the back nine is especially enjoyable, with wonderful ocean vistas combining with tricky green complexes.

Off the course, it's characterized by its exclusivity, accessible for members, their guests and those staying at the resort. Golf is just part of its appeal as the property is also home to a spa, sport shooting grounds, marina and high-end dining, spread out along a pretty piece of coastline just across from P.E.I.

Watch for a future issue of SCOREGolf for more on the Fox Harb'r experience.

+Matthew Bliss moved through a first stage qualifier in Europe last week, taking second spot behind an amateur winner (and earning the full first-place cheque of almost 2,000 Euro). Bliss is a Burlington, Ont., native who has shown some promise on the Euro Challenge Tour over the past few seasons. Like North America, Europe has three stages to clear to get full 2011 playing privileges.

+Sticking in Europe, former amateur star Gary Wolstenholme of England won on the senior tour there last weekend, just his second event since becoming eligible by turning 50.

Wolstenholme didn't turn professional until age 48, in part because he couldn't afford to not be earning money playing the game. Wolstenholme once qualified for the U.S. Open and used a radio reporter as his caddie so as not to have to pay a professional looper (he got in as an alternate).

Presumably money isn't as much of an issue anymore: Wolstenholme earned $90,000 for the win and another 20 grand a few weeks earlier in his senior debut. He beat Tiger Woods in a Walker Cup singles match in 1995.